JP6660652B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp suitable for being applied to a motorcycle lamp.

  Of the vehicle lamps mounted on motorcycles, turn signal lamps are often mounted so as to protrude from the left and right sides of the vehicle body. In such a case, the left and right turn signal lamps are configured such that a light source, a lens, and the like are assembled in a lamp housing having an independent configuration. In Patent Literature 1, the left and right turn signal lamps (turn signal lamps) of a motorcycle are configured independently of lamp housings, and a light emitting diode (LED) as a light source and an inner lens are disposed in these lamp housings. I have. Patent Document 1 proposes a technique in which the appearance is improved by improving the configuration of the inner lens.

Japanese Patent No. 5543665

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, when the lamp housing is designed to be small, the light source and the inner lens are arranged close to each other in the lamp housing. Therefore, it is difficult to largely diverge the light emitted from the light source when the lamp is turned on, and it is difficult to obtain required light distribution characteristics. Further, when the lamp is viewed from the outside, the light source is observed as a bright spot on the light emitting surface, and the appearance of the lamp is reduced.

  Further, when the left and right turn signal lamps are mounted so as to protrude to the left and right of the body of the motorcycle as in Patent Literature 1, it is likely to be damaged by external force due to contact with other objects such as road installations and other vehicles. . When the housing is damaged, the housing and the lens are damaged. At this time, the light source unit including the light source and the light source substrate on which the light source is mounted is also easily damaged. Since this light source unit is more expensive than a lens or the like, the cost of replacing the damaged turn signal lamp increases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp capable of improving the appearance of a lamp including a small-sized lamp and reducing costs when replacing a damaged lamp.

  The present invention provides a first lamp unit which is disposed on a vehicle body and at least a light source is provided therein, and which is disposed at a position distant from the first lamp unit, and which receives light emitted from the light source. And a second lamp unit that emits the incident light from the light emitting surface.

Oite to the invention further second lamp unit is configured as a pair of lamp units which are supported in a state of protruding on both outer sides in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle body of the vehicle. For example, the second lamp unit is formed of a light guide, and light emitted from a light source is incident on a part of the light guide, is guided inside the light guide, and is provided at another portion. Emitted from the light emitting surface.

  The first lamp unit according to the present invention is configured as a composite lamp in which a plurality of lamps are combined, and a light source that emits light toward the second lamp unit is provided in a lamp chamber of at least one lamp.

  In the present invention, the second lamp unit can be opened outward in the vehicle width direction, and further includes means for detecting a following vehicle of the vehicle, and the second lamp unit is opened when a following vehicle is detected. It is preferable that it is a structure.

  According to the present invention, even if the second lamp unit is configured to be small, the optical path length between the light emitting surface and the light source can be increased, the light source is no longer observed as a bright spot on the light emitting surface, and the appearance is improved. You. Further, even if the second lamp unit is damaged, the first lamp unit including the expensive light source is not damaged, and the maintenance cost of the lamp can be reduced.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a tail light of a motorcycle. FIG. 1 is a rear view of a motorcycle equipped with a tail light according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial exploded perspective view of the tail light according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an optical path when a tail light according to the first embodiment is turned on. FIG. 9 is a rear view of the motorcycle equipped with the tail light according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an optical path when a tail light according to a second embodiment is turned on.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a tail light of a motorcycle, and is a schematic perspective view of the motorcycle viewed from behind. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the motorcycle. Here, in the following description, the front of the taillight is the rear surface of the motorcycle, and the rear of the taillight is the front surface of the motorcycle. Further, the tail lamp in the first embodiment includes a tail lamp, a stop lamp, and a turn signal lamp.

  1 and 2, a first lamp unit 1 is provided at a rear portion of the motorcycle AB. On the left and right sides of the first lamp unit 1, two paired second lamp units 2 are provided. The first lamp unit 1 and the left and right second lamp units 2 are assembled in advance by a sub-assembly before being arranged at the rear of the vehicle body of the motorcycle AB and provided with a lighting circuit provided on the vehicle body. And the like.

  The first lamp unit 1 is configured as a combined lamp in which a plurality of lamps, here, a tail lamp TL and a stop lamp SL are combined, and a part of the configuration of the turn signal lamp TSL is combined. That is, a light emitting surface is formed on the front of the first lamp unit 1, a part of the upper part of the light emitting surface is configured as a stop lamp SL, and the lower part is configured as a tail lamp TL. The left and right second lamp units 2 are configured as left and right turn signal lamps TSL in cooperation with a part of the left and right components provided in the first lamp unit 1, respectively.

  3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along the line III-III and IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic partial exploded perspective view of the taillight. The first lamp unit 1 has a lamp body 3. The lamp body 3 has a base 4 and an outer cover 5 formed of an opaque resin. The base 4 is formed into a trapezoid as a whole, with both end faces 42 being inclined in the thickness direction with respect to the center face 41. The outer cover 5 is integrally attached to the front side of the base 4 and is formed in a curved shape protruding in the front direction. A lamp chamber described later is formed in an internal space surrounded by the base 4 and the outer cover 5.

  The outer cover 5 is provided with an opening 51 having a substantially rectangular shape in the center region, and a frame-shaped inner peripheral wall 52 is formed along the edge of the opening 51 so as to protrude rearward. The inner peripheral wall 52 is integrally formed with a horizontal linear partition wall 53 that vertically partitions the internal space of the opening 51. When the outer cover 5 is assembled to the base 4, the central surface portion 41 of the base 4 is positioned to face the opening 51.

  Due to the inner peripheral wall 52 and the partition wall 53 of the outer cover 5, the inner space of the opening 51 has an upper area defined as a stop lamp chamber and a lower area defined as a tail lamp chamber. The inner spaces on both outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the inner peripheral wall 52 are defined as turn signal lamp chambers. The inner surface of the inner peripheral wall portion 52 and the inner surface of the partition wall 53 of the outer cover 5 are coated or vapor-deposited with aluminum, and each is configured as a reflector that reflects light.

  At the opening 51 of the outer cover 5, a plate-shaped cover lens 6 curved from the front side to follow the curved surface of the outer cover 5 is attached. The cover lens 6 is formed of a translucent resin, and has a diverging step 61 for diverging transmitted light on an inner surface thereof. The cover lens 6 serves as a light emitting surface of the tail lamp TL and the stop lamp SL.

  In each of the left and right regions of the outer cover 5, a light transmission window 54 is formed. The light transmitting window 54 may have a configuration in which a part of the outer cover 5 is opened, or may have a configuration in which a translucent plate member is provided after opening. Here, the latter configuration is adopted.

  A light source unit 7 is provided on the base 4. A tail lamp light source 71 is provided at a position corresponding to the tail lamp chamber on the central surface 41 of the base 4, and a stop lamp light source 72 is provided at a position corresponding to the stop lamp chamber. Turn signal lamp light sources 73 are disposed on both side surfaces 42 of the base 4 corresponding to the left and right turn signal lamp chambers.

  Each light source unit 7 (71, 71, 73) has a light source board 74 formed of a circuit board, and each light source board 74 has one or more LEDs 75 as a light source. Here, a plurality of (two) red LEDs 75r are mounted on each light source board 74 of the tail lamp light source unit 71 and the stop lamp light source unit 72. One yellow (amber) LED 75y is mounted on each of the light source boards 74 of the left and right turn signal lamp light sources 73. These LEDs 75 are illuminated by a drive current controlled on the vehicle body side of the motorcycle.

  Elliptical reflectors 8 are provided in the left and right turn signal lamp chambers. The elliptical reflector 8 has a spheroid having a first focus F1 near the light emitting point of the turn signal lamp light source 73 (yellow LED 75y) and a second focus F2 near the inside of the light transmission window 54. It is formed as a curved surface including at least a part thereof, and the inner surface thereof is coated or deposited with aluminum to form a light reflecting surface.

  Each of the second lamp units 2 disposed on the left and right of the first lamp unit 1 covers a light guide 21 made of a light-transmitting resin, and covers the light guide 21 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The wing cover 22 is provided. Each second lamp unit 2 is supported by a stem 9 projecting from both sides of the outer cover 5 of the first lamp unit 1 in the left-right direction, and each second lamp unit 2 is viewed from the rear of the motorcycle. The first lamp unit 1 is configured to have a "C" shape on the left and right sides when the first lamp unit 1 is turned on.

  The light guide 21 is extended by a required length along the front-rear direction of the motorcycle, and its front end face is formed with a number of microspherical steps which are not shown in FIG. Is formed as a light emitting surface 21a that diverges light toward the angle region of FIG. Further, an outer surface near the rear end of each light guide 21 is formed as a total reflection surface portion 21b whose horizontal cross-sectional shape is processed into a parabolic shape. The parabolic surface of the total reflection surface portion 21b has the second focal point of the elliptical reflector 8 as a parabolic focal point, and is disposed to face the light transmission window 54.

  Each of the wing covers 22 is formed of an opaque resin of the same or different color as the outer cover 5, and covers both outer surfaces of the light guide 21 in the vehicle width direction. The wing cover 22 is supported by the first lamp unit 1 by the stem 9 together with the light guide 21. The inner surface of the wing cover 22, that is, the surface facing the light guide 21 is configured as a light reflecting surface by surface treatment.

  According to the taillight having the above configuration, when the lighting switch is turned on in the motorcycle AB, as shown in FIG. 6, the red LED 75r of the tail lamp light source unit 71 emits light. The red light emitted from the emitted red LED 75r passes through the lower region of the cover lens 6 and is irradiated in the front direction, that is, toward the rear of the motorcycle. It will be lit.

  By the brake operation on the motorcycle AB, the red LED 75r of the stop lamp light source section 72 emits light. The emitted red light from the red LED 75r passes through the upper region of the cover lens 6 and is irradiated toward the front, and the stop lamp SL is turned on using the upper region of the cover lens 6 as a light emitting surface. Become. Since the luminous intensity of the stop lamp SL is set higher than the luminous intensity of the tail lamp TL, the lighting of the stop lamp SL can be visually recognized even when the tail lamp TL is lit at night.

  By the direction instruction operation on the motorcycle AB, the yellow LED 75y of the right or left turn signal lamp light source 73 is illuminated. The light emitted from the yellow LED 75y by this light emission is projected on the light reflecting surface of the elliptical reflector 8, as shown in FIG. 6, and is reflected there. The yellow light reflected by the elliptical reflector 8 is collected at the second focal point F2. Then, the light passes through the light transmitting window 54 provided near the second focal point F2 and is emitted outward from the outer cover 5 in the vehicle width direction. That is, the right turn signal lamp TSL shown in FIG. 6 emits rightward of the motorcycle, and the left turn signal lamp emits leftward.

  The yellow light transmitted and emitted through the light transmission window 54 in this manner enters the light guide 21 of the second lamp unit 2. The yellow light is incident on the inside of the light guide from the inner surface on the back side of the light guide 21, and the incident light is totally reflected by the total reflection surface portion 21 b and directed toward the front of the light guide 21. Since the total reflection surface portion 21b has a parabolic shape, the reflected light is guided as a substantially parallel light flux, and is guided to the light emitting surface 21a of the light guide, and then diverges from the light emitting surface 21a. The light is emitted in the state, and the lighting is performed with required light distribution characteristics.

  Some of the light guided inside the light guide 21 may leak to the outside from the side surface of the light guide 21, but the light leaked from the outside surface of the light guide 21 may The light is reflected by the inner surface and returned to the inside of the light guide 21 again. As a result, the required light distribution of the turn signal lamp TSL is secured, and glare with respect to another vehicle can be prevented. The light leaking from the inner surface of the light guide 21 is reflected on the outer surface of the outer cover 5 and emitted toward the rear of the motorcycle. This has the effect of increasing the area of the light emitting surface of the turn signal lamp TSL.

  In the first embodiment, since the light emitting surface 21a of the light guide 21 is slightly inclined outward in the left-right direction, the yellow light emitted from the light emitting surface 21a extends outward from the rear of the motorcycle in the vehicle width direction. The light is emitted in a divergent state toward a required angle region. Thereby, the lighting of the turn signal lamp TSL can be recognized from another vehicle existing behind or beside the motorcycle AB.

  According to the taillight of the first embodiment, in the turn signal lamp TSL, yellow light emitted from the yellow LED 75y of the turn signal lamp light source unit 73 is once collected when reflected by the elliptical reflector 8, and then guided. After being incident on the light body 21 and guided through the light guide 21, the light is emitted from the light diverging surface 21a. Therefore, even when the light guide 21 forming the light emitting surface 21a of the turn signal lamp TSL is formed in a small size, when the turn signal lamp TSL is turned on, the yellow LED 75y is observed as a bright spot on the light emitting surface. Therefore, the appearance of the turn signal lamp is improved.

  In addition, since the turn signal lamp has a long optical path length from the yellow LED 75r as a light source to the light emitting surface 21a of the light guide 21 as a light emitting surface, the light emitted from the yellow LED 75y is sufficiently diverged. The light can be guided to the light emitting surface 21 a of the light guide 21. Therefore, the area of the light emitting surface 21a of the light guide 21, that is, the area of the light emitting surface of the turn signal lamp TSL can be designed to be large, and a turn signal lamp with high visibility from other vehicles can be obtained.

  Furthermore, since the second lamp unit 2 may only include the light guide 21, the configuration of the turn signal lamp TSL can be simplified, and the turn signal lamp TSL can be manufactured at a small size and at low cost. Therefore, when the second lamp unit 2 disposed so as to protrude left and right from the vehicle body of the second motorcycle AB is in contact with another object and is damaged by an external force, the light guide 21 and the wing Even if the cover 22 is damaged, it is possible to prevent the yellow LED 75y provided in the first lamp unit 1 and the light source unit 73 including the light source substrate 74 from being damaged. Therefore, in the maintenance of the turn signal lamp TSL, only the second lamp unit 2 needs to be replaced, and the replacement of the light source unit 73 is unnecessary, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the light source portion of the turn signal lamp TSL is configured as a combined lamp integrally formed with the other tail lamp TL and the stop lamp SL as the first lamp unit 1, the second portion is required to configure the turn signal lamp TSL. It is only necessary to attach the lamp unit 2, and further cost reduction can be realized.

  FIG. 7 is a rear view of a motorcycle equipped with a tail light according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of these parts will be omitted. In the second embodiment, an infrared sensor 19 for detecting a following vehicle is provided in the lamp room of the tail lamp TL in the first lamp unit 1. The stem 9 supporting the second lamp unit 2 includes a wing mechanism 91 for rotating the second lamp unit 2 in the horizontal direction. When the following vehicle is detected by the infrared sensor 10, the second lamp unit 2 is rotated in the vehicle width direction by the wing mechanism 91.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the infrared sensor 10 is disposed inside the cover lens 6, emits infrared light toward the rear of the motorcycle through the cover lens 6, and receives infrared light reflected by the following vehicle. This detects the following vehicle. In the second embodiment, the infrared sensor 10 is configured to always perform detection without distinguishing between daytime and nighttime. However, for example, the infrared sensor 10 may be configured to perform detection only at nighttime.

  The wing mechanism 91 opens and closes while rotating the second lamp unit 2 in the vehicle width direction with a hinge portion provided on the stem 9 as a fulcrum. When the second lamp unit 2 is closed, it is moved to a position along the outer side surface of the light guide as in the first embodiment (the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 8). As described above, the left and right second lamp units 2 are directed to the rear of the motorcycle AB on both the left and right outer sides of the first lamp unit 1 as if the bird wings were widened.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a control circuit unit 11 for controlling the opening and closing operation of the wing mechanism 91 is connected to the infrared sensor 10. The control circuit unit 11 is provided in the first lamp unit 1, detects a following vehicle from a detection output of the infrared sensor 10, and outputs a predetermined drive signal to the wing mechanism 91 based on the detection signal. Here, the wing mechanism 91 closes the second ramp unit 2 when the following vehicle is at a position behind and behind the own vehicle, and when the following vehicle approaches the own vehicle to a predetermined distance, the wing mechanism is used. The opening operation of the second lamp unit 2 is performed by 91. In FIG. 8, the wiring for electrically connecting the control circuit unit 11 and the wing mechanism 91 is not shown.

  Further, in the second embodiment, when the second lamp unit 2 is opened, the control circuit unit 11 simultaneously outputs a lighting signal to the turn signal lamp light source unit 73 to cause the yellow LED 75y to perform a high-speed cycle. It is also configured to flash on and off. For example, although not shown in the drawing, a signal for performing so-called hazard lighting control, which causes the left and right turn signal lamps to blink simultaneously, may be output to a turn signal lamp lighting control circuit.

  In the tail light of the second embodiment, the same lighting operation as that of the first embodiment is performed for the normal lighting operation of the tail lamp TL, the stop lamp SL, and the turn signal lamp TSL. On the other hand, as for the turn signal lamp TSL, when the following vehicle approaches abnormally, the control circuit unit 11 opens the left and right second lamp units 2 based on the detection of the infrared sensor 10 and simultaneously operates the left and right turn signal lamps. Each yellow LED 75y of the light source unit 73 is blinked at a high speed cycle. Thereby, the yellow light emitted from the yellow LED 75y is reflected by the elliptical reflector 8, passes through the light transmission window 54, and enters the left and right second lamp units 2.

  At this time, since the second lamp unit 2 is in the opened position, most of the light incident on the light guide 21 is transmitted through the light guide 21 and projected on the inner surface of the wing cover 22. Since the inner surface of the wing cover 22 is configured as a light reflecting surface, almost all light is reflected on the inner surface of the wing cover 22, passes through the light guide 21 again, and is emitted toward the rear of the vehicle. . As a result, the inner surfaces of the light guide 21 and the wing cover 22 of the left and right second lamp units 2 that are open to both outer sides in the vehicle width direction also function as light emitting surfaces. Hazard lighting with an extremely large surface area is performed. Therefore, a warning of an abnormal approach is issued to the following vehicle, and a rear-end collision with the own vehicle can be prevented.

  In the second embodiment, the entire second lamp unit 2, that is, the light guide 21 and the wing cover 22 are integrally opened and closed. However, the wing mechanism 91 is configured to open and close only the wing cover 22. Is also good. Since the inner surface of the wing cover 22 is configured as a light reflecting surface, even if only the wing cover 22 is opened, the light transmitted through the light guide 21 is directed to the motorcycle by the light reflecting surface of the wing cover 22. The light reflecting surface can function as the light emitting surface of the turn signal lamp TSL together with the light emitting surface of the light guide 21.

  In the second embodiment, a red LED that emits light at a high luminous intensity is arranged in the turn signal lamp room partitioned by the first lamp unit 1 separately from the yellow LED 75y. Instead of the light emission, the red LED may emit light or blink. At this time, the left and right second lamp units 2 can function as warning lamps.

  In particular, when the red LED is provided in this manner, the emission of the red LED and the second lamp unit when the host vehicle performs a sudden braking operation while the following vehicle is approaching within a predetermined distance. 2 may be performed. As a result, the left and right second lamp units can also function as emergency stop lamps, and it is possible to reliably notify the approaching subsequent vehicle of the sudden deceleration of the own vehicle.

  In the second embodiment, the opening angle of the second lamp unit 2 may be changed according to the difference in the distance from the following vehicle. For example, the degree of warning for the following vehicle can be changed by increasing the opening angle as the distance to the following vehicle decreases. Alternatively, when only the wing cover 22 is opened and closed, the opening angle of the wing cover 22 may be different.

  In the first and second embodiments, the light of the yellow LED 75y emitted from the turn signal lamp chamber partitioned into the first lamp unit is guided to the light guide through the light transmission window 54, but the left and right second lamp units are provided. A part or the whole of the stem 9 supporting the light guide member 2 is formed of a light-transmitting member, and this stem is connected to the light guide 21, so that light from the turn signal lamp chamber to each light guide through the stem 9 can be obtained. May be led.

  In the present invention, the second lamp unit is not necessarily a turn signal lamp, and may be configured as a lamp in which a turn signal lamp and a tail lamp or a stop lamp are combined.

  Although the present invention is preferably applied to a headlamp for a motorcycle, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a headlamp for an automobile.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 first lamp unit 2 second lamp unit 3 lamp body 4 base 5 outer cover 6 cover lens 7 light source unit 8 elliptical reflector 9 stem 10 infrared sensor 11 control circuit unit 21 light guide 22 wing cover 51 opening 52 inner peripheral wall 53 partition 54 Light transmission window 71 Tail lamp light source section 72 Stop lamp light source section 73 Turn signal lamp light source section 74 Light source board 75 LED
91 Wing mechanism AB Motorcycle TL Tail lamp SL Stop lamp TSL Turn signal lamp

Claims (6)

A first lamp unit which is disposed on a vehicle body and has at least a light source therein, and which is disposed at a position distant from the first lamp unit so that light emitted from the light source is incident on the first lamp unit; A second lamp unit that emits the emitted light from a light emitting surface , wherein the second lamp unit is configured as a pair of lamp units supported so as to protrude from both sides of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction. vehicle lamp, characterized in that is. The second lamp unit is formed of a light guide, and light emitted from the light source is incident on a part of the light guide, and is provided at another portion after being guided inside the light guide. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the light is emitted from the light emitting surface. The second lamp unit covers a predetermined area of the light guide, and includes a wing cover having an inner surface facing the light guide formed as a light reflecting surface, and the wing cover is provided together with the light guide or independently. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2 , wherein the vehicular lamp is opened after being opened. The said 1st lamp unit is comprised as a compound lamp in which several lamps were compounded, The said light source which emits light toward the said 2nd lamp unit is equipped in the lamp room of at least 1 lamp. The lamp for a room vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . Comprises means for detecting a trailing vehicle in the rear of the vehicle, the second lamp unit is capable opening motion towards the outside of the vehicle width direction, claims 1 being the opening motion upon detection of a succeeding vehicle 4 The vehicle lighting device according to any one of the above. A first lamp unit which is disposed on a vehicle body and has at least a light source therein, and which is disposed at a position distant from the first lamp unit so that light emitted from the light source is incident on the first lamp unit; A second lamp unit that emits the emitted light from the light emitting surface; and a unit that detects a following vehicle existing behind the vehicle. The second lamp unit is capable of opening outward in the vehicle width direction. A vehicle lighting device which is opened when a following vehicle is detected .

Images